Urgent Report

Writers: Jelena, Paula
Date Posted: 18th August 2016

Characters: Corowal, Bikirn
Description: Understeward brings Corowal a report that's not as urgent as he thinks it is.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 7, day 14 of Turn 8

Bikirn came running all the way to the main Hold and through it for the most part as well. In his mind, the matter of the broken fence was of the utmost importance. They could loose herdbeast! Even though he had put up a temporary barricade with one of the beastcrafters, chances were they'd still make it through somehow. They could be crafty when they had their minds set on certain patches of grass, the rascals.

So, in Bikirn's mind he had every right to come barging in to the Lord Holders office. To his credit, he did knock before bursting in.

"Lord Corowal. I need to speak with you," he said, still panting from the run.

"Yes, Bikirn, what is it?" Corowal asked. The assistant steward's behaviour indicated that there was something wrong. More bad news, no doupt. The latest storm had been causing all kind of damages.

"The fence" *pant* "around our eastern" *pant* "herdbeast enclosure," the grabbed the edge of the desk as he tried to regain his breath. "The storm. Messed it up. Pretty bad. A tree."

"Take a few deep breaths and start all over again. You're not making any sense," Corowal said with annoyed tone while his heart skipped a beat. Had the herdsbeasts ran off? That would be bad. Almost as bad as the lightning that hit the dam and possibly damaged their powerplant.

Bikirn complied and took three deep breath before speaking again. "The fence of our eastern heardbeast enclose. It got hit by a felled tree." Three more deep breaths. "I managed to block it off for now with some help, but it's not fool-proof, some of them could still slip through." He seemed to consider something all of a sudden and paled a little. "And I didn't count the herd yet. Maybe some did already get away."

"But the majority of the herd is still there?" Corowal asked clarifying question and rubbed his face. They needed those herdbeasts, they meant milk and meat.

"Yes, I would have noticed if there were more missing definitely. But maybe a few. I'll go back for a proper count." Bitrin had finally regained enough of his breath for a decent conversation. "But what I came to talk to you about, we're out of proper fence poles. This wasn't the first fence to break during this month's storms and we've used them all up. Someone must have forgotten to report that they were all gone." He surely wasn't going to mention that someone had been him.

"Talk to the woodcrafters about the poles. Ask Aivorn to put some of his apprentices to watch the herds. The temporary fix just has to do until then. There's hundred and one other things to fix too. As long as the beasts stay inside the paddock, they are not a priority," Corowal told him.

"But," Bikirn obviously didn't agree amd struggled for the words to voice his objections. "There's no guarantee they'll stay in the paddock! Or do you want apprentices running night-shifts?"

"Whatever it takes," Corowal said. "They can be moved to more distant pasture, if the temporary fix isn't enough," he glance he gave to Bikirn was full of steel. He was easy going and light hearted man but he was also the Lord Holder, he did not like his decisions questioned or argued.

The visibly shrunk under the Lord Holder's steely gaze, realizing he had been lucky already. Corowal hadn't further questioned him on who exactly had forgotten to report that the stock of fence poles was entirely depleted. If he had, Bikirn might have been in trouble. He really shouldn't be pushing his luck, should he? "As you say, Lord Holder," he thus said somewhat meekly. "I'll go see to that at once."

"Next time, report to Steward Sarban, or better yet to master Aivorn, who's responsible for the beasts," Corowal said sternly. He had stewards and master crafters in his employment so he didn't have to deal with every nitpicking detail.

"Yes, Sir, I will, Sir," Bikirn said solemnly. meanwhile slowly backing away towards the door. "I thought you'd want to know, I'm sorry. I'll think better next time."

Corowal didn't even bother to reply him, he just turned his back to the man.

Bikirn grumbled to himself after closing the door. **That'll teach a person to be responsible. I'll think again twice before I ever report anything again.**

Last updated on the December 17th 2016

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Urgent Report